US: Russian peacekeepers get wider Georgia mandate

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Associated Press - August 14, 2008 1:33 PM ET

PARIS (AP) - A U.S. official says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will ask Georgia to sign a cease-fire agreement with Russia that includes apparent concessions to Moscow but preserves Georgian borders.

Under the agreement, Russian peacekeepers would have the express right to patrol beyond two disputed border regions at the heart of the week-old conflict. The U.S. official says there are important clarifications still to be made and the U.S. would support additional powers for the Russian peacekeepers only if they were limited, well defined and temporary.



Read more: http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=8841795

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Rice Travels Abroad to Amend Cease-Fire Agreement
Negotiations to Center Around Georgia's 'Territorial Integrity'
By KIRIT RADIA
Aug. 14, 2008

When President Bush announced Wednesday that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would travel to France and the Republic of Georgia, he described her trip in almost humanitarian terms.

"She will personally convey America's unwavering support for Georgia's democratic government. On this trip she will continue our efforts to rally the free world in the defense of a free Georgia," the president said, making no mention of a U.S. role in mediating the conflict between Georgia and Russia.

During her mad dash around the world today and Friday, however, Rice will be pushing hard to amend a peace deal brokered just days earlier, according to senior officials at the State Department who would not be named because they were describing internal deliberations.

more:http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5582354&page=1

US warns Russia on Georgia but readies concessions

FORT DE BREGANCON, France (AP) - The United States warned sternly Thursday of a long-term rupture with Russia if Moscow does not quickly abide by its promise to withdraw its fighting forces from Georgia. In contrast to the tough talk, Condoleezza Rice rushed to the former Soviet republic with a new cease-fire plan offering concessions to Moscow.

The new document would allow Russian peacekeepers who were in the disputed South Ossetia region before the fighting broke out a week ago to stay, and they would now be permitted to patrol in a strip up to six miles outside the area, U.S. officials said. But that allowance would be temporary, and details were still to be worked out, the officials said.

Issuing urgent statements in Washington and abroad, President Bush and his foreign policy lieutenants sought to jawbone Russia into compliance while taking a U.S. military response off the table - suggesting strict limits to how far he was willing to go in the waning days of a controversial presidency.

Bush repeated his call for the cease-fire to be honored and demanded that Russia respect the ``territorial integrity'' of Georgia. He spent nearly four hours being briefed at CIA headquarters about the war on terror and the grim situation in Georgia.

more:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7726180

[amandabeech]

1. Score one for the Russians. n/t

[The Magistrate]

2. It Is Funny To Watch People Play Poker With Nothing But A Busted Flush In Their Hand, Ma'am

All the mighty talk, and then the abject cave....

"Reality is that which, when you cease to believe in it, continues to exist."

[maddezmom]

3. Dispatch of troops to Georgia 'will not save US from embarrassment'

President George W Bush's dispatch of troops to Georgia has failed to placate domestic critics who brand it as too little too late to save the United States from international embarrassment.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2559735/Dispatch-of-troops-to-Georgia-will-not-save-US-from-embarrassment.html

[bemildred]

4. An excellent quote, Sir.

This has been a most amusing and instructive week, Sir. And I was expecting a slow time in August.

[The Magistrate]

5. It Has Been Good Grim Fun, My Friend

Good to see you about the place!

[Cousin It]

7. This....

.....role for Russian "peacekeepers" has to apply because Sarkozy has screwed up, in his desperation to get on telly and impress Carla, and offered it to Russia 2 days ago in the 6 point plan I suspect.

In the end, if it's narrowly defined and time limited as the US seems to be insisting it should be, it represents no great shakes. The devil, as ever, will be in the detail.

So far there's evidence that the Russians are slowing the boat, and I think the US have handled it calmly, firmly, subtlely and well.

[The Magistrate]

9. Do You Really Think So, Sir?

To my view, the U.S. has handled nothing, having no leverage in the situation whatever. Some noises have been made for domestic consumption and the rallying of a bellicose voting bloc, four fifths at least of which still call the Russians 'Soviet commies', and can be relied to prick up their ears at the sound of 'Russia threatens!' That is about all our administration has done.

Mr. Putin has handled the affair pretty well, as befits a man with all the trumps at the table. He will have the seceeded enclaves, and whatever buffer he desires across their boundaries. No one will say 'boo!' about it in any meaningful way, and it is probably not a bad outcome all around.

"It is wonderful to behold the calm confidence of a Christian with four aces."

[daleo]

10. I love the quote about reality

It applies to neo-cons, fascists, communists, and true believers of all stripes.

[ohio2007]

6. Georgia: Russian tanks moving deeper into Georgia

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) - Georgia's president says a column of more than 100 Russian tanks and other vehicles is moving toward the country's second-largest city.
Mikhail Saakashvili says the convoy is about halfway between the cities of Senaki and Kutaisi. He spoke to foreign reporters Thursday and appealed for international help.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D92I8PSG0&show_article=1

[maddezmom]

8. Georgia Says Russian Tanks Have Halted

Troops About 35 Miles Outside 2nd-Largest City

POSTED: 6:46 pm EDT August 14, 2008


TBILISI, Georgia -- Georgia's government said a convoy of Russian tanks and other vehicles has stopped en route to Georgia's second-largest city.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the troops are about 35 miles outside the city.

Earlier Thursday, Georgia's president had said the convoy was advancing. The prime minister said it included more than 100 tanks and other vehicles.

more:http://www.wesh.com/news/17194341/detail.html

[Selatius]

11. To quote myself in another thread: "It appears Saakashvili got fucked over by the US."

The US promised much but delivered so little in the end. Georgia got crushed in the geopolitics between Russia and the US.

[Javaman]

12. I just love when moron* brings a knife to a gun fight.

:banghead:

[Regret My New Name]

13. I for one am glad he didn't bring a gun...

or nukes for that matter.

[Javaman]

14. I was referring to useless condi. ;) nt